Chapter 27: Juebu: Araki, You Must Learn Self‑Control! Araki

Deputy Captain Juebu, please follow me~

Maozhihua Lie said, a smile on his cheek, leading Juebu Jiro along the way.

Oh! Alright, okay…

Juebu Jiro's expression remained unchanged, a calm face, tightly following right behind Maozhihua Lie.

Be a bit careful, there's a threshold here~

Alright, thank you for the reminder!

Just from the dialogue between Juebu Jiro and Maozhihua Lie, one can see no oddity between the two.

Maozhihua Lie dutifully acted as the host, while Juebu Jiro played the role of a 'gentleman' and 'polite' guest!

If this scene were seen by some senior nobles of the Soul Society, they would smile and praise, "This is our exemplar!"

But the problem is, this dialogue wasn't spoken by senior nobles! It was spoken by former Soul Society 'Great Villain' Maozhihua Lie and the deputy of the Guardian Corps Thirteen Squad Captain Yamamoto Motoyasui Shigekuni, Juebu Jiro!

This is so jarring! It's as if two blood‑thirsty beasts from the mountains suddenly became enlightened, put on human clothes, follow human rules, and even speak human language! Not only is it full of dissonance, it sends a chill down one's spine, making the whole body exhale cold air…

At least the soldiers of the Guardian Corps Eleventh Squad who witnessed this jarring scene, each of them had their celestial caps invaded by the cold air, trembling in fearful shivers~

And the seemingly calm Juebu Jiro, following behind Maozhihua Lie, now feels deep inside far less tranquil than his outward demeanor…

"Is this really the 'Great Villain' Maozhihua Lie, hailed as the Soul Society's number one 'Murderer'?!"

"Unbelievable, that Captain Maozhihua actually addressed me with 'you'?! She actually used honorifics with me? It's downright incomprehensible…"

At this moment, deep within Juebu Jiro, a terrifying storm has erupted. He had long heard that after being defeated by Araki, Maozhihua Lie's personality had changed to some extent! Yet Juebu Jiro never expected the shift to be this massive…

Moreover, Juebu discovered that Maozhihua's personality had changed so drastically…

Juebu found that the first‑generation Sword Eight, who always wore his hair loose over his shoulders, had now tied it into a long braid! To Juebu, this was utterly incomprehensible!

If Juebu hadn't already known about Maozhihua's 'glorious achievements', merely looking at Maozhihua's current appearance would never lead one to recognize that the present Maozhihua is the once‑renowned 'Murderer' who terrified the Soul Society!

The current Maozhihua, compared to a killer, resembles more a caring older sister…

"Alright, so scary…"

"Clearly the Deputy Captain Maozhihua seems much gentler in temperament than before."

"But I feel that the current Maozhihua is even scarier than before!"

Juebu Jiro felt the terrifying pressure radiating from Maozhihua Lie, who walked directly ahead of him, the aura striking straight to the heart, causing a cold sweat to instantly cover Juebu Jiro's forehead.

"If the former Captain Maozhihua was a 'precious sword'—invincible and exceedingly sharp—then the current Deputy Captain Maozhihua is more like a blade moved from the light into the shadows! From a sword displayed openly, returning into an ordinary sheath, making its edge indistinguishable…"

"A 'precious sword' may be superb and undeniably sharp! But everyone can see it clearly, everyone knows its sharpness! Hence no one will touch it lightly; it is a strength placed in the light…"

"After returning to the sheath, because the weapon is hidden inside, no one can discern its nature! No one will ever know whether the 'blade' in the sheath is sharp or not! Nor will anyone know whether the sheath hides a dagger or an invincible 'precious sword'!"

Juebu Jiro looked at Maozhihua Lie walking ahead of him, murmuring to himself.

"Undoubtedly, the current Deputy Captain Maozhihua, who hides himself in the shadows, is more terrifying than before!"

In the end, Juebu Jiro concluded that the Maozhihua now demoted to Deputy Captain is even more frightening than the Maozhihua who held the Captain's position.

"Deputy Captain Juebu…"

"Captain Araki is already waiting for you inside~"

Just as Juebu Jiro stared at Maozhihua Lie's back, his heart roiling, the Maozhihua who had been guiding him suddenly spoke, interrupting Juebu Jiro's thoughts.

"Oh. Alright, okay!"

The instant Juebu Jiro heard Maozhihua Lie's voice, he snapped out of his reverie, first showing a respectful expression and repeatedly nodding toward Maozhihua Lie, then finally stood outside the door of the Eleventh Squad headquarters.

Undoubtedly, Juebu Jiro's survival instinct was intense, fearing he might have upset Maozhihua Lie!

"Deputy Captain Juebu, I've already led you to Captain Araki's location! Now please go in alone and discuss the important matters with Captain Araki!"

Maozhihua Lie looked at Juebu Jiro, smiling, and said.

"Oh, alright!" Juebu Jiro, upon hearing that, first habitually nodded repeatedly at Maozhihua Lie, then as if recalling something, looked at Maozhihua Lie and said, "Captain Maozhihua, actually the matter I discuss with Captain Araki isn't a big deal! If you don't mind, perhaps we could discuss it together, what do you think?"

"Since it's not a big matter, you can sort it out yourselves! I still have Eleventh Squad affairs to handle!"

After hearing Juebu Jiro's words, Maozhihua Lie finally smiled and gave Juebu Jiro a look as if he were a teachable child.

"Very well, take your time!"

Juebu Jiro watched Maozhihua Lie's slightly upturned mouth corner and slowly exhaled.

It seems Maozhihua Lie's test, for now, he has passed!

"Hmm…"

Before departing, Maozhihua Lie stared deeply at Juebu Jiro, then turned and left with a carefree stride.

It was precisely that gaze before Maozhihua Lie left that made Juebu Jiro shiver in terror!

Juebu Jiro finally, before Maozhihua Lie left, saw the shadow of the first‑generation Sword Eight in Maozhihua Lie's eyes!

Indeed, Maozhihua Lie hadn't changed; she was still the 'Murderer' brandishing a weapon! Yet this time, as a 'Murderer' she was concealed among the populace, making her less clearly seen!

"Scary, scary!"

Juebu Jiro muttered as he pushed open the door of the Eleventh Squad headquarters.

"You're here…"

When Juebu Jiro stepped into the headquarters, he saw the 'true' Captain of the Eleventh Squad, the second‑generation Sword Eight Araki, his eyes blood‑shot as if he hadn't slept for days and nights.

"Araki… Captain!"

"I'm not the one telling you, you really should learn to practice proper restraint!"

"Don't waste that uniquely gifted body of yours!"

Juebu Jiro stared at Araki's blood‑shot eyes, his heart trembling. In that instant, Juebu Jiro finally understood why such a huge change had occurred in Maozhihua Lie—surely it was closely tied to Araki's relentless daily efforts!

"Huh?"

To this, Araki, who had long anticipated Juebu Jiro's arrival, twitched his eyelid slightly.

What nonsense is this guy saying? Restraint? Joke! His body needs restraint? He can be an unlimited man!

Cough cough... No!

What nonsense is this? He's actually a decent person!

Thanks to reader YOYO for the 500 reward~

(End of chapter)